Fairfield University's students, staff and safety department came together last week to surprise sophomore student, Meg Moore, with a new wheelchair equipped with communicative technology. The 20-year-old's previous motorized wheelchair was falling apart. It was being held with duct tape and needed to be replaced.
Moore said she was indeed surprised and did not expect any of it. Sgt. Rob Didato, of Connecticut University's public safety department, said they noticed Moore struggling with the outdated chair. So they decided to step in and help.
Moore and her mom were fighting with the insurance to get her the new chair. Due to the insurance issue, Didato and his department decided to start a campaign. Moore's classmates generously pitched in and helped raised the thousands in funds.
Two Fairfield alumni, Bryan LeClerc of batch '84 and Robert Bercham of batch '62 also helped by negotiating the price of the wheelchair with the manufacturer. LeClerc was able to negotiate the price of the chair from the original $60,000 down to $40,000. Didato said if it weren't for Berchama and LeClerc they wouldn't know how they would be able to present the chair to Moore.
Moore lives with her mother in a handicap-accessible dorm on campus. She is a Dean's list student, she takes regular class load, she's also a member of the Varsity Pep Band and a Campus Ministry lector, The Fairfield Daily Voice reported. Moore founded the Yes You Can Club, which is a support group that connects students with cancer patients and disabled members of the community.
They presented the chair in a ceremony last Friday. The chair was blessed by one of the Unviersity's resident Jesuits. The safety department and members of the school's staff were present and Moore was grateful for the really wonderful people in her town, Fox News reported.
